Oliver Woodard

    Oliver Woodard, section 6, Washington Township, was born in Clinton County, Ohio, November 20, 1832, a son of Etheldred and Nancy A. (Oliver) Woodward, natives of Northampton County, North Carolina, his father born in September, 1809, and his mother in 1810. His mother died June, 1846, and his father April 11, 1864. They were married in their native State, where two children were born to them, and subsequently moved to Clinton County, Ohio, where they both died. They had a family of six children -Lecy, Lucy A., Oliver, James H., Jeremiah D. and Winnie M. Lecy and James are deceased. Mr. Woodard is of English descent, his great-grandfather coming to America in an early day. His grandfather, Jesse Woodard, was a native of Tennessee, and died in North Carolina. His grandmother, Melvina (Johnson) Woodard, was born in Northampton County, North Carolina. His maternal grandparents, James and Winnie (Allen) Oliver, were natives of North Carolina, where the former died, and the latter died in Grant County, Indiana, aged sixty-six years.

    Oliver Woodard lived in Clinton County, Ohio until October, 1865, when he moved to Blackford County, Indiana, and settl4ed on section 6, Washington Township. Fifteen acres of the land had been cleared and a two-story log house had been raised, but not completed. He finished the house, making it comfortable for the family the coming winter, and then went tot work to prepare his land for spring sowing. He has been a hardworking man, and has been successful, having added 226 acres to the seventy-two he first bought. Of this he has given 118 acres to his children, reserving 180 acres in the homestead.

    Mr. Woodard was married January 15, 1854, to Nancy A. Fannon, who was born in Clinton County, Ohio, January 24, 1831, a daughter of James and Catherine (Mills) Fannon. Her father was born in Louisiana March 8, 1799, and died August 26, 1871, and her mother was born in Tennessee May 1, 1809, and died January 20, 1875. They had a family of sixteen children -James W., John M., Jehu A., Nancy A., Samuel J., Jesse C., Elijah J., Wesley B., Joel H., Mary M., Melinda A., Andrew C., Elihu M., Jacob M., Reuben S. and Milican. Mrs. Woodard's paternal grandparents, William and Elizabeth Fannon, were natives of Scotland and early settlers of Clinton County, Ohio. Her maternal grandparents, Reuben and Nancy Mills, were natives of Ireland, and on coming to America located in Tennessee.

    Mr. and Mrs. Woodard have had ten children -Sarah E., born November 25, 1854; Jesse, born February 25, 1856; Harrison E., born June 25, 1857, died June 6, 1882; James E., born June 8, 1859; Addison L., born December 1, 1860; John H., born July 17, 1862, died July 9, 1877; Chany, born September 12, 1866; Ira, born September 9, 1868, died July 9, 1877, and Clara E., born February 28, 1874.

Source: Biographical and Historical Record of Jay and Blackford Counties, Indiana by The Lewis Publishing Company, 1887.